Blog

Why can’t I rest?!

When I think back to my pre-kids life with Nick – I see lazy Sundays. During the week I remember getting up on my own terms, having breakfast, getting showered and dressed, in time for the train to work. I remember being engaged in meaningful conversation about issues, current affairs and I remember looking forward weekends because they meant down time.

I certainly didn’t think about the needs of four other people, before I’ve even jumped out of bed. I don’t remember mental fatigue. I don’t remember being easily triggered because I was always ‘at capacity’. I don’t remember monotony of routine (even though it was pretty monotonous).

Life felt fun!

Was it kids that changed everything? Or is this pace something we are all feeling – kids or no kids? The ‘at capacity’ or ‘maxed-out’ – it seems to be the status quo amongst people I talk to. I’ve had pretty amazing people in my life showing me the way in terms of not buying into the CONSTANTLY ON mentality and physical reality and teaching me about things like Adrenal Fatigue. I remember interviewing the gorgeous Sonia from Natural New Age Mum for the Small Steps Membership on this exact topic. And it felt like something that would never happen to me.

I was just the mum of young kids, running a business and doing the things that were necessary. I didn’t have a choice.

Or so I thought.

I’d go to my Chiropractor in Brisbane who would warn me about my adrenals all the time – and I didn’t even feel stressed!! But he’d say “your body is telling me a different story, Lisa”. Modern mothers are dealing with a lot. A lot of expectation. Crazy comparison-itis. Compromised health because of all the stress and busy.

When I recorded this Facebook Live on rest – it got an amazing response from my community. It was post-Shingles and I had just discovered that rest was the thing I needed most and the thing I didn’t know how to do anymore.

No wonder my adrenals were consistently firing. There was always a podcast in my ear, a book to read, Netflix to watch, a day to plan, a to-do list to tick, swimming lessons to get to, a daycare/kindy/school run to be completed, a work deadline, social media to update. My brain never stopped. And so – Lisa was never rested!

FYI – Working in bed is NOT RESTING!!

I recorded a podcast on Doing Nothing – it’s a lesson I am learning over and over again. I want you to know I don’t have this sorted but here are three small steps I am taking to experiment with increasing my restful periods:

1. Going to bed in the 9’s 2. Not drinking alcohol (I used it as a relaxation technique!) 3. Not opening my laptop at night

Tell me – what’s one small step you could take to get more rest into your life? Do you struggle to rest too?

Lisa Corduff

Lisa Corduff inspires modern women to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, simpler life via her online programs, membership and podcast.
She has a perfectly imperfect life and is helping women all around the world to ditch the impossible standards, be kind to themselves and live life on their terms.

You might also like...

Comments

My next mini-experiment is about rest (current is journalling), to be in bed reading by a certain time which leads to a sleep time much earlier, and more consistent, than currently. Aiming for 4 nights out of 7.

Hi Lisa I love your blogs and posts x I too struggle everyday with stopping and resting. After a serious fall 6 years ago I’ve struggled with my own expectations of what I should be doing and the realisation of my restrictions.

6 months ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia which has been a blessing as with medications and a new mindset of not trying to push through the pain (well most of the time lol because I still push the boundaries sometimes) I am learning to actually listen to my body and try to adjust accordingly.

I have found yin yoga to be a complete godsend and if you get a chance check out a class I promise you you’ll love it x Jeep up the hard work you do I fir one would be lost without it xx

At the end of last year I was physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted. I googled how I was feeling – as you do lol and came up with the word “spent”. I thought that definitely explained how I felt.

My personal view is that by necessity, society now expects mother’s to do two full-time jobs – taking care of the family/household and bring in an income and sometimes it all gets too much to do and something has to give. We become time poor and most often its taking care of ourselves which is the first thing that needs to happen but very often the last on our To-do list!

About Lisa

Lisa Corduff inspires modern women to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, simpler life via her online programs, membership and podcast. She has a perfectly imperfect life and is helping women all around the world to ditch the impossible standards, be kind to themselves and live life on their terms.